Sealing ring



Feb. 23, 1937. JESSER 2,071,535

SEALING RING Filed Dec. 18, 1934 INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 23, 1937 STATES I wists oFFic SEALING RING ApplicationDecember 18, 1934, Serial No. 758,046

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sealing rings of the characteremployed for removably securing the heads or covers of containers andthe like. v

For example, certain types of shipping drums are formed with an open endclosed by a head having telescoping engagement with a circumferentialhead or rim about said open end of the drum. An embracing annular memberor ring is applied to said head ,and rim for removably securing the headto the drum.

These members are generally of the split ring type having means at thefree ends thereof for closing said ends in clamping relation about thehead and container top. Various means have heretofore been employed forapplying a clamping and closing pressure to the ring ends, includingsystems of levers and cooperating linkage. The lever action type of ringin most instances has the lever members thereof either disposed over thehead of the container or projecting outwardly beyond the peripheralportion of the ring,

thereby interfering with the handling of the container.

For example, in the use of storage drums, it is often desirable to stackthe same in interfitting end-to-end relation, which expedientisimpossible with the lever rings having the mechanism thereof disposedand operable over the drum. head. Likewise, most peripherally locatedlevers interfere with rolling the drum, which operation may also damagethe lever mechanism itself.

To obviate these and other objectionable features and defects in theprior art, it is an object of my invention to provide a sealing ring ofthe lever action type that readily conforms to the outer contour of thejoint between the .container and its head without any substantialinterfering projection therebeyond.

Another object is to provide a ring of the character stated which maybereadily applied. to a container, and which may be securely fastened inclosed position thereon.

Further objects are to provide a sealing ring having a minimum number ofparts, and a ring which is capable of economical manufacture.

My invention may be more readily understood by a reference to thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a sealing ring embodying myinvention, showing the ring in closed position;

Fig. 2, an elevational edgewise view of the outer circumferentialportion of Fig. 1;

ally a. container, as for example, a steel drum or barrel, formed at itsopen end or top with a circumferential rolled portion or head '2.A'metal head or cover 3 is providedfor closing said container, whichhead is removable and has an annular grooved or channelled rim 4 fortelescoping engagement with the rolled bead 2 of the container, as shownin Fig. 4. 5 designates a ring gasket or packing of suitable materialwhich is disposed between the bead. 2 and rim 4.

Embracing the bead and rim for removably securing the head 3 on thecontainer is provided a split ring or annular member 6 of substantiallychannel or U'-shape in cross-section, having spaced flanges I on eitherside of a web or body portion 8 thereof, said ring being preferablyformed of resilient metal for exerting a clamping or sealing pressure byits flanges upon the rim 6, the bead 2 'and the interposed gasket 5.

My invention has to do with means associated with the ends of the splitring for contracting and securing said ring in place on the container A.Thus, 9 designates a channel-form lever having spaced flanges l0 and anintervening web or body portion ll. One end of said lever has theflanges l0 thereof slightly extended beyond the body II to form abifurcated portion l2 strad dl'ing one free end of the ring 6 andtransversely pivoted to the opposite flanges 1 thereof by rivets l3, forswinging movement toward and away from said ring.

The longitudinal curvature and cross-sectional dimensions of thelever'are designed to provide telescoping engagement over and tosubstantially conform to the contour of the ring 6, when said to a pointon the other side of the pivotal point 13 of the lever, where they aretransversely pivoted by their other ends to said flanges ill of thelever, as at l6.

Said links are of minimum width to prevent projection thereof beyond theinner and outer peripheral contours of the ring and lever when in closedposition. The intermediate portions of the links may be slightly bowedor offset as at I! in Fig. 2, to prevent interference with the rivets l3when in motion thereover.

The pivotal points l5 and I6 of the links M are disposed on either sideof the pivot point l3 of the lever when said lever is closed upon thering, and the direction or line of reacting pull tending to separate thering ends passes through said pivot points l5 and [6 of the links, asindicated at aa in Fig. 1.

To provide a device which will tend to lock or retain itself in closedposition, I prefer to locate the pivot point l3 of the lever outwardlyof the line of pull a-a, in the nature of a toggle joint connection,thereby eliminating any force moment tending to open the linkage when infinal closed position on the ring.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown the ring 6 and itslever 9 of channel-form in cross-section, with the respective flanges 1and I0 thereof preferably slightly divergent for the purpose ofaffording easier application of the ring over the head rim 4 and thedrum bead 2, and for exerting sufiicient sealing pressure to insure atight joint.

To prevent the angularity of the ring and lever flanges resulting ininterference with the desired pivotal action of and injury to the leverlinkage, particularly as to the bifurcated lever portion l2 which issubjected to a transverse flexing and bending force dueto saidangularity, I prefer to provide the bifurcated portion l2 of the leverof minimum length, extending only far enough beyond the body ll thereofto permit pivotal movement of said lever to take place over the ring endon which it is mounted by the rivets l3.

In addition, the said ring end is weakened by cutting away a portion I8of the web of body 8 thereof, leaving the extended flanges Hz forconnection with said rivets l3. Since the portion l2 of the lever isstrengthened to resist the flex-- ing and bending forces produced, theburden thereof is transferred to the relatively weaker ring flangeportions la. At the moment of greatest force which occurs upontightening or closing movement of the lever on its ring end, thedirection of said force is longitudinally of said portions la and saidforce is therefore absorbed throughout the metal of the ring flanges 1without causing injury to the lever connection.

For the purpose of securing the lever 9 to the ring 6 in closed positionthereon, as against accidental opening during the handling or rolling ofthe drum, said lever is preferably provided with an extended inwardlyoifset tang l9 at its terminal end, over which is secured a resilient U-shaped clip or latch 20 by a rivet 2| passed through the tang and thebody portion of the clip. Said latch preferably has spaced flanges 22for telescoping over and adapted for frictional gripping contact withthe flanges 1 of the ring 6 when the lever 9 is closed thereon. Inaddition, one of said flanges is provided with a terminal angular flange23 for locking engagement behind or over the inner annular edge 24 ofthe ring flange 7 with which said latch flange contacts.

The latch may be disengaged from the ring by prying or otherwisedisplacing the flange 23 out of engagement with the edge 24 of the ringflange I. To assist the disengagement, the outermost edge of the latchflange 22 on which the locking flange 23 is formed may be outwardlyflared, as at 25, whereby to permit ready insertion of a screw driver 26or other tool between said portion 25 and the ring flange 1. Also, aprojecting fulcrum button or abutment 2'! may be raised in the ringflange 1 adjacent the point of engagement of the latch with said flange,to assist in said disengagement.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a sealing ringconstruction of the character stated, wherein a simple and efficientclosure linkage is provided which does not have interfering projectionpreventing customary handling of the containers to which it may beapplied. Further, I have provided a linkage construction which will besecurely locked in closed position against accidental opening, but whichmay be readily opened when desired.

Various changes and modifications are contemplated within the scope ofthe following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a

split ring of channel form including spaced-apart flanges, a channelform lever having spaced flanges for telescoping engagement with one endof the ring, said lever being pivoted by its flanges to the flanges ofsaid ring end for swinging movement toward and away from the ring, apair of links having an end of each pivotally connected to a flange ofthe other ring end, the other end of each being pivoted to a flange ofthe lever, said links lying substantially flat along the ring and leverflanges without projection beyond the inner and outer peripheralcontours of said ring and lever when in closed position, and means forremovably securingthe lever in closed position on said ring.

2. In a device of the character described, a split ring of channel formincluding spaced-apart flanges, a channel form lever having spacedflanges for telescoping engagement with one end of the ring, said leverbeing pivoted by its flanges to the flanges of said ring end forswinging movement toward and away from the ring, a pair of links havingan end of each pivotally connected to a flange of the other ring end,the other end of each being pivoted to a flange of the lever, the pivotpoint of the lever being outwardly of the line of pull of the ring whenin closed position,

whereby the ring, lever and links are retained in closed position, saidlinks extending along the ring and lever flanges without projectionbeyond the inner end outer peripheral contours thereof.

3. In a device of the character described, a split ring of channel formincluding spaced-apart flanges, a channel form lever having spacedflanges for telescoping engagement with one end of the ring, said leverbeing pivoted by its flanges to the flanges of said ring end forswinging movement toward and away from the ring, a pair of links havingan end of each pivotally connected to a flange of the other ring end,the other end of each being pivoted to a flange of the lever, the pivotpoint of the lever being outwardly of the line of pull of the ring whenin closed position, whereby the ring, lever and links are retained inclosed position, said links extending along the ring and lever flangeswithout projection beyond the inner and outer peripheral contoursthereof, and means for securing the lever and ring in closed position.

4. In a device of the character described, a split the angularity of thesaid divergent flanges during movement of the lever will be transmittedto the ring flanges and there absorbed without injury to the leverconnection, and means for removably securing the lever in closedposition on said ring.

5. In a device of the character described, a split ring of channel formhaving. spaced-apart flanges, a channel form lever connected with oneend of the ring for swinging movement toward and away from the ring, apair of links pivotally I connected with the other ring end and saidlever, and a latch member movable with the lever and having meansthereon cooperating with a flange of the ring for removably securing thelever in closed position on said ring. 1

6. In a device of the character described, a split ring or channel formhaving spaced-apart flanges, a channel form lever connected with one endof the ring for swinging movement toward and away from the ring, a pairof links pivotally connected with the other ring end and said lever, anda latch member movable with the lever and having means thereon forengagement behind the inner annular edge of a flange of the ring, forremovabiy securing the lever in closed position on said ring.

'7. In a device of the character'described, a split ring of channel formhaving spaced-apart flanges, a lever connected with one end of the ringfor movement toward and away from the ring, a pair of links pivotallyconnected with the other ring end and said lever, and a U-shapedresiiient latch member on the lever for embracing frictional contactwith the ring when the lever is closed thereon, said latch having anangular flange for engagement behind the inner annular edge of a flangeof the ring.

8. In a device of the character described, a

split ring of channel form including spaced apart :flanges, a channelform lever having spaced to the flanges of said ring end for movementtoward and away from thefring, a pair of links having an end of eachpivotally connected to a flange of the other ring end, the other end ofearth being pivoted to a flange of the lever, said links lyingsubstantially flat along the ring and lever flanges without projectionbeyond the inner and outer peripheral contours of said ring and leverwhen in closed position, and a latch member on the lever having meansthereon cooperating with the inner annular edge of a flange of the ringfor removably securing the lever in closed position on said ring.

9. In a device of the character described, a split ring of channel formincluding spaced apart flanges, a lever having spaced flanges fortelescoping engagement with one end of the ring, said lever beingpivotally connected to said ring end for swinging movement toward andaway from the ring, linkage pivotally connected to the other ring end,said linkage at its opposite end being pivoted to the lever, saidlinkage extending along the ring and lever flanges without interferingprojection beyond the same when in closed position.

10. In a device of the character described, a split ring includingspaced apart flanges, a lever having a portion of its inside contoursubstantially complemental with the exterior of the ring for telescopingengagement with one end of the ring,,said leverbeing pivotally connectedto said ring end for swinging movement toward and away from the ring,linkage extending along the sides of the ring and lever and pivotallyconnected to the other ring end, said linkage at its opposite endpivoted to the lever, said linkage being disposed relative to the sidesof "the ring and lever without interfering projection beyond said sideswhen in closed position. v

11. In a device of the character described, a split ring of channel formincluding spaced-apart flanges, a channel form lever having spacedflanges for telescoping engagement with one end of the ring, said leverbeing pivoted by its flanges to the flanges of said ring end forswinging movement toward and away from the ring, a pair of links havingan end of each pivotally connected to a flange or" the other ring end,the other end of each being pivoted to a flange of the lever, said linkslying substantially flat along the ring and lever flanges withoutprojection beyond the inner and outer peripheral contours of said ringand lever when in closed position.

ALBERT E. JESSER.

